Ray Lewis was calm but candid last night on his weekly radio show when asked about the Ravens' play-calling on offense during the second half of their 19-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

"It was as frustrating for you as it was for me," Lewis said in response to a caller complaining about coach Brian Billick's decision to have Kyle Boller throw the ball three straight times, starting with second-and-one at the Bills' 49 with less than two minutes to play. All three passes were incomplete.

"As far as decisions, you have to let Willis McGahee touch the ball on one of those plays," Lewis said.

Lewis, who does a two-hour radio show with Anita Marks on 1300 AM each Monday from his Canton restaurant, Full Moon Bar-B-Que, said frustration wouldn't divide the locker room. But he said he agrees with those who were puzzled that McGahee didn't get a carry in that situation.

"We knew he should have touched the ball when you have a fourth-and-one," Lewis said. "Old-school football is old-school football. If there is a yard I need to get, there is a running back, a fullback and an offense that is meant to get that.

"You can't make oranges be peaches. It doesn't change. It will never change. That's what Billick has to ask himself, why we keep putting ourselves in those situations. In the Cincinnati game, that cost us with those same decisions."

kevin.vanvalkenburg@baltsun.com